30 OCTOBER 1942, Page 2

National Planning

The debate on national planning opened in the House of Lords by Lord Reith last week was very valuable, if only because it showed that informed opinion demands swift action by the Govern- ment to implement the more vital recommendations of the Uthwatt and Scott Reports. It would have been more valuable still if it had taken a direction which required the Government to answer two simple questions—whether it does or does not accept in principle the Uthwatt recommendations for the controlled development of undeveloped land, and whether it will or will not confer upon local authorities enlarged powers of purchase for areas requiring develop- ment. It is of the greatest importance that the Government should quickly give a direct yes to these two questions, and not defer its Ammer, as it does, on the ground that it is conunitted to long inquiries on the subject of machinery. Unfortunately the debate was mainly concerned with the problem of machinery, on which both Committees gave an opinion, though it- was outside their terms of reference. Lord Reith now favours, and indeed says he always favoured, the appointment of one super-Minister in charge of all spheres of reconstruction, as well as of that of physical planning. But he clearly recognises the possibility of proceeding according to what may be called a lower plane of truth—since he has already acted as Minister of Works and Planning in the physical sphere—

and there would be much gain if we could be sure of getting some- thing done (on the physical side) by securing a central planning body which would take charge of town and country planning, under a Minister who would act in close association with competent local authorities. The precise form which the machinery is to take mutt of course be settled, and how it is to be related to the wider machinery of reconstruction ; and some further consultation with the local authorities may perhaps be necessary ; but there is no reason why there should be any delay in announcing decisions about major policies recommended in the two reports for which, till recently, the Government was waiting.